New blood vessels evolve during angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, two physiological processes, that play a crucial role in embryogenesis and placentation. Structural alterations in the human umbilical cord, maternal spiral arteries can cause adverse fetal consequences.Pre-eclampsia is accompanied by an extensive remodelling of the ECM of the umbilical cord. Pre-eclamptic Wharton's jelly contains higher amounts of glycosaminoglycans in comparison to control tissue.